Sam planted a trail of kisses over the scar. “Do you still play?”

“Once in a while, but not in that league. I never played with them again.”

“I’d like to see you play.”

He smiled. “Yeah?”

“I bet you look hot out there.”

Drawing her in closer to him, he said, “You think so, huh?”

“I know so.” Sam rested her head against his chest, breathing him in. “I’ve really missed you.”

“I’ve missed us. You’re essential to me, Samantha.” With the tip of his finger he tipped her chin up and kissed her. “So very essential.”

Sam slipped her arms around his neck and fell into the kiss as all the worries of the day disappeared. As he held her tight against him, his tongue caressed hers, teasing and tempting until Sam was out of her mind with desire.

“Nick,” she said, gasping. “I want you.”

“I was thinking,” he said, his lips busy on her neck, “that since it’s been a while, maybe we should wait… until our wedding night.”

Her hand, which had been cruising down his chest, came to a stop on his belly. “You aren’t serious.”

“It’s been this long, what’s a few more days?”

She tilted her hips into his erection. “An eternity?”

He released a choppy laugh that told her how much this show of restraint was costing him.

Sam shifted her hand lower and wrapped it around him, stroking him.

His head fell back on the pillow, and his eyes drifted shut.

“You’re sure you want to wait?” she asked, kissing her way down his chest.

“Imagine how good our wedding night will be.”

“It’ll be good no matter what.” She bent her head and took him into her mouth.

“Oh, God, Sam.”

“Mmmm.” She took him deep and loved how he grew harder when she lashed him with her tongue.

“Babe,” he said, sounding desperate as his fingers tunneled into her hair. “Sam…”

“Relax,” she whispered. “Let it happen.”

All the oxygen seemed to leave his body in one long exhale. Sam smiled as she returned to the task at hand. She could tell from the tremble that rippled through him that he was close, so she stroked him harder and sucked him in.

He took in a sharp deep breath and broke out in a sweat. As she felt him reach the point of no return, she backed off and then took him up again.

“Payback is a bitch,” he said through gritted teeth.

Sam laughed and decided she’d tortured him enough. This time, she took him deep and right over, reveling in the cry of completion that seemed to come from his very soul.

“Son of a bitch,” he whispered, his chest heaving as Sam crawled on top of him. His arms encircled her, and his lips found her forehead. “Give me a minute to recover, and then I’m so getting you back for that.”